Rolling With the Rambler Revolution

One on One with Loyola’s Lucas Williamson

(St. Louis, MO) – The Rambler Revolution is in full swing. Loyola is battling Northern Iowa for the top of the Missouri Valley Conference standings. Chicago native Lucas Williamson is proud of his Windy City roots and is glad to be helping with the revolution. LUC has posted at least 18 wins for the fourth straight year (88 overall) and for the fifth time in six seasons.

If the Ramblers (18-9, 10-4) can earn two more wins they will have produced three straight 20-win seasons for the first time since the National Championship run (1963) and for the second time since the 1940s.

LUC has won or shared two straight Valley crowns and trail UNI by one game with four to play. The Ramblers won 20 games one time between 1985 and 2007. Gene Sullivan’s fabled Sweet Sixteen team of 1985 capped off two straight 20-win seasons, while George Ireland’s 1963 National Champion team was the middle season of three straight with at least that many victories. They would net 22 more wins in 1965-66.

Loyola’s best five-year record occurred during the late 1940s when Tom Hagerty guided them to 111 victories. During that time they collected  four-straight seasons of at least 20 wins.

Modern Era Rambler Revolution

Prior to this season, coach Porter Moser’s team fell two wins short of that mark. Moser’s last six seasons have netted 127 victories the most of any LUC six-year span. The modern Rambler Revolution began when Moser started landing Chicago area players. Milton Doyle’s signing, led to Donte Ingram’s which led to Williamson and Cameron Krutwig.

Williamson has been a part of last three historic seasons. During his freshman season, the Whitney Young product was a deeply contributing rookie on Loyola’s Final Four squad (32-6). He was named to the Valley’s All-Bench and All Freshmen teams. The Ramblers shared last season’s title with Drake.

Williamson says the past three seasons have been exciting and challenging.

 

 

The 6’4 guard is one of the Valley’s best defenders and attributes his defensive toughness to playing in the Chicago Public League. However, because of the difference in collegiate officiating he had to learn a different way to defend.

Williamson is proud to play at Loyola University Chicago, because he is proud of his Chicago upbringing. His four seasons at Whitney Young brought two Illinois State titles. He says Chicago has ‘made’ him.

 

 

During that historic Final Four run Williamson and his teammates were a part of an amazing story that they couldn’t fully comprehend at the time. He says the winning culture and the family feel of the team made that run special.

Defeating ‘power conference’ teams along the way, made the victories even more sweet. He says Valley competitors can compete with the elites of college basketball.

 

 

Learning From Moser

Basketball players and coaches have a special bond. Moser is a relentless motivator, teacher and Williamson is an eager student. The two Chicago natives connect easily. Moser says Williamson’s defensive role is a huge contributor to the Rambler Revolution. The veteran coach says he’s never worried about his junior’s offensive production because he dominates on the defensive end.

Williamson says he has learned a great deal from his coach and that basketball lessons also translate into life lessons. Moser’s attention to attitudinal things has changed Williamson’s life.

 

 

Head coach Porter Moser says Williamson and Aher Uguak are incredibly valuable because of their great defensive presence. Moser also says the junior’s offense (9.0 points per game) is coming around as well.

 

 

The Ramblers are a focused unit. Rambler goals and approaches are both unique and intangible. LUC leads the Valley in steals. All five starters are ranked in the league’s top ten in that department. When I pointed that out to Moser, he was surprised, saying they don’t emphasize steals.

 

 

When I asked Williamson about the steals statistics, he sounded just like his coach

 

 

What’s Ahead

The Rambler Revolution is in good hands with Moser at the helm and Williamson and his roommate Cameron Krutwig providing leadership to a team that wants to excel at the little things that lead to big results.

See ‘Four Returners Will Shape the Valley Season‘ for our preseason thoughts on Williamson and the Ramblers.

Loyola finishes with home games where they are drawing sell-out crowds, with Illinois State and Indiana State. They also travel to two dangerous places. Missouri State and Bradley are two of the league’s hottest teams.

Winning a third straight league title will require some big wins and they will need someone to knock off Northern Iowa. Accomplishing that feat would cement to Rambler Revolution.

Do Good

 

Editor: For our entire interview with Williamson head to the Valley Hoops Insider Podcast.